The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-04-22

A-t-sAo Aor hsAnA u49AOH = 1uNoteu leaf8
Hence Congress was shy, Hence Archi-
tect CarIss Queer Expedient.
WASHINGTON, April A tightly
closed box, about ten feet in height,
stands on the east portico Of the Capitol,
and excites a great deal Of curiosity in
the breasts Of the thousands of people
that annually pass it by. Only very few
of the people who see this box know
what it contains. It has stood there for
nearly five years, and from present APP
pearances it is likely to stand there until
it falls to pieces-that is, the outer case,
for inside is strong iron safe, one Of
the strongest ever made.
During the Centennial year, very
patriotic lady, living in Philadelphia,
called at the Capitol and asked Architect
Clark if he knew of such thing as collec-
ton of autographs of General Washington
and his Cabinet. Mr.. Clark replied that
he did not, and the lady said that it was
the one disappointment of her life that she
was unable to exhibit at the Centennial
Exhibition not only the autographs of
the first President of the United States
but cabinet photograph of the same.
ut is crying shame" she remarked,
"that the government has not collec-
ton of the autographs of all the prominent
men who first organized and started this
country. What great thing it would be
for the people at this Centennial to- be
able to turn to an album showing the
handwriting of all the men who took an
interest in this young country and were
its officers at it's startl What valuable
thing it would be if such collection was
owned by the government She said it
was impossible to get such thing now,
but she intended to prevent recurrence
of what she considered a national dis
grace at the second Centennial of the
United States. The lady stated that she
intended to collect the autographs of the
President of the United States, his Cab
met, all the prominent officials of the
government at Washington, the presi-
dent of the Senate and the senators, the
speaker of the House and members of
Congress, as well as the governors of the
States, and all the members of the Legis-
latures of each State then in the Union.
Not only did she intend to get the auto
graphs but the photographs Of as many
as possible.
She set to work and had large num-
Der of books made, 1Ox18 inches. Each
page of these books was the same.
Printed at the top were the words
"Name," Official Position, Residence"
"Place of Birth" and Occupation" A
column was given to each one of these
captions, and the first book was sent to
the President of the United States. He
filed in his name, and then the Cabinet
put in theirs; then came the members of
the Senate and nolse, and next the Off
cials of the government. President
Hayes name was secured with much diff
ficulty, and so was the Cabinet. Con-
gress, however, was more troublesome to
secure. The woman worked with great
zela and sent these immense books all over
the country, securing first one name,
then another. Then she commenced and
got the names of the governors of the
States. Some of the Legislatures were
in session and it was an easy matter for
her to secure them. Others were sepa-
rated, and again the work of sending the
books over the country was resumed. A
very fine collection, considering the odds
against her, was secured. Then she set
to work and had twelve large photograph
albums made. Each large album con-
tanned at least 500 spaces for photographs
from the small carte-de-yisite to the
cabinet or panel. She secured as many
photographs of prominent men as she
could buy, beg, or borrow, and filled
eleven of these books-the odd one is
now on exhibition in the architects Of
rice in the Capitol 1t has no pictures
In it.
While she was procuring the name of
President Hayes and the officials in
Washington, she used large silver ink
stand and one pen. When she had filled
the first book with the names of "Promi-
nent Men," as she called them, she dedi-
Gated the book in beautiful handwriting
on the fy-leaf of the book "a Dedication
TO the President, Vice President, Cabinet,
Speaker of the House. Senators and
Members of Congress; also to President
Scott of the Pennsylvania, Railroad"
who assisted her in sending the books
around the country. The dedication was
the following inscription: ''This book is
lot to be opened until 1875, when it is to
he exhibited at our second Centennial.
Then it is to be opened and the President
of this country and high officials are to
write their names in it. They are to use
the same pen and silver inkstand which
will be found in the safe where these
books are kept. The safe is to be closed
again at the end of the year, and the
books are not to be opened for another
hundred years; but the safe is to be
opened every two years." This remark
able collection of autographs and photo